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UFO Hunters (History) (History)

common sense media says

Alien proof search tedious, but not bad for kids.

parents & educators say
See 2 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's not much room for debate in this show. The investigators are absolutely convinced that the alleged alien sightings they're studying are real and that they'll be able to find proof if they look hard enough. When their research is inconclusive (or completely fails to support their theories) they start to wonder about government conspiracies and hidden evidence but never consider the possibility that the incidents are anything but actual alien encounters. Viewers may certainly disagree, but those who do will find little reason to watch. All of that said, there's little obviously iffy content here -- a bit of bleeped swearing is about it.

Positive messages: The UFO investigators are searching for hard evidence of alien activity and are inclined to think that the authorities are all conspiring to hide the truth. They're also eternal optimists, and their repeated failures to find real evidence only makes them more convinced that the truth is still out there somewhere. They seem unwilling to accept the possibility that the incidents they're investigating may not actually involve extraterrestrials.
Violence: Some computer re-creations of flying saucers crashing.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Infrequent swearing, especially when the diehard UFO investigators say that government denials of certain events are "total bulls--t."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on UFO Hunters (History)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about people's fascination with UFOs. Do you think UFOs are real? What would you think of someone who said they'd seen one? Why are so many people convinced that they've seen these mysterious objects, and why do UFOs and aliens appear so often in so many TV shows and movies?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Bill Birnes, Pat Uskert, and Jeff Tomlinson are the UFO HUNTERS, a dedicated team of researchers who investigate some of the best-known sightings of flying saucers. Many of these incidents happened years or even decades ago; the show's goal is to find hard, scientific evidence to back up witnesses' claims. Computer graphics vividly re-create the alien encounters, and then the team examines the site, using metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and other high-tech tools (though often the search method is no more complicated than looking through an overgrown forest or scouring a beach for signs of a long-ago visit).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Since most of the incidents happened long ago, the team is hunting in areas that have already been examined many times for evidence that, if it ever did exist, is certainly unlikely to be there now. Not surprisingly, their searches generally tend to be in vain -- and there's little excitement to be found in watching these men sift through sand on a beach that may have once been the site of a UFO encounter. The re-creations are more interesting, but the same images are sometimes shown over and over again, making the episodes seem repetitive.

Plus, the team is anything but unbiased. Birnes is the publisher of UFO Magazine, and Uskert claims to have personally seen a mysterious flying object. So even when their studies are inconclusive, they're unwilling to consider that an incident may not have been the real deal. These guys are true believers, certain that the truth is out there whether they're able to prove it or not. People who agree may enjoy their show, but others may find it less than convincing.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: History
Cast: Bill Birnes, Jeff Tomlinson, Pat Uskert
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: History
This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Plague
parent
9
 
UFO Hunters
Entertaining. Not the best show on TV, but its watchable.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
Dr.Pepper
adult
10
 
I like it
It is a good show if you like aliens and UFO's. There is nothing wrong with it except for occasional swearing that is bleeped out.
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was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)

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